Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device which can achieve compatibility between the simplicity of the configuration or control of electronic equipment and the maintaining of its high operability includes: a display panel and a touch panel arranged on a front surface side of the display panel as viewed from a viewer. The touch panel includes one transparent substrate and a conductive pattern disposed on the substrate. A plurality of detection areas in each of which a touch position can be detected are provided in the touch panel. A non-detection area in which the touch position is not detected is provided between two detection areas next to each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from Japanese application JP2011-007840 filed on Jan. 18, 2011, the content of which is herebyincorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display device, and moreparticularly, to a technique effectively applied to a liquid crystaldisplay device having a touch panel arranged on a liquid crystal displaypanel.

2. Description of the Related Art

Examples of display devices in the related art include a display devicehaving a man-machine interface called a touch panel arranged on adisplay panel (hereinafter referred to as display device with a touchpanel). The display device with the touch panel is being widely usedfor, for example, bank s ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines), carnavigation systems, mobile-phone handsets, and the like.

The touch panel is generally disposed such that an area thereof(hereinafter referred to as detection area) in which a touch positioncan be detected when touched with predetermined means (for example, afinger, a stylus, and the like) overlaps a display area in a displaypanel. Therefore, a user can operate electronic equipment having thedisplay device with the touch panel as if, for example, the userdirectly touches an image, such as of a button, displayed on the displaypanel.

In the display device with the touch panel, all or part of operation ofelectronic equipment having the display device can be replaced with acombination of an image or video to be displayed on the display paneland a touch position on the touch panel. Accordingly, by using thedisplay device with the touch panel, the configuration or control of theelectronic equipment can be simplified compared to electronic equipmentoperated using mechanical switches, such as membrane switches, in therelated art.

Further, examples of display devices with a touch panel in recent yearsinclude a display device in which, for example, a sheet provided withapart serving as a mark in operation, such as a button, is arranged on afront surface of a touch panel for improving operability of electronicequipment having the display device (for example, refer to JP 11-327756A).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In electronic equipment having a display device with a touch panel inthe related art, for example, mechanical switches, such as membraneswitches, are arranged outside a display area, and an operation relatingto a frequently used function or a specific operation is assigned to themechanical switch in some cases. By doing this, for example, invoking ofa frequently used function or a specific operation can be directlyperformed irrespective of contents displayed on a display panel,improving operability.

However, when the mechanical switch is arranged, there arises a problemthat the configuration or control of the electronic equipment iscomplicated by the amount corresponding to the arrangement.

Moreover, when the mechanical switch is arranged, a space for arrangingthe switch is needed outside the display area. Therefore, there arises aproblem that the electronic equipment is increased in size or thedisplay area is narrowed.

Further, a pattern, such as a button or a concavity and convexity,provided in the sheet in JP 11-327756 A varies depending on, forexample, operations performed using the touch panel, in other words,depending on the kinds of electronic equipment. Accordingly, it isconceivable that the use of such a sheet leads to a reduction in generalversatility of a display device with a touch panel.

It is an object of the invention to provide a display device with atouch panel which can, for example, achieve compatibility between thesimplicity of the configuration or control of electronic equipment andthe maintaining of its high operability.

It is another object of the invention to provide a display device with atouch panel which can, for example, suppress a reduction in generalversatility when being incorporated into electronic equipment.

The above and other objects and novel features of the invention willbecome apparent from the description of the specification and theaccompanying drawings.

A typical outline of the invention disclosed herein will be describedbelow.

(1) A display device includes: a display panel; and a touch panelarranged on a front surface side of the display panel as viewed from aviewer, wherein the touch panel includes one transparent substrate and aconductive pattern disposed on the substrate, a plurality of detectionareas in each of which a touch position can be detected are provided inthe touch panel, and a non-detection area in which the touch position isnot detected is provided between two detection areas next to each other.

(2) In the display device according to (1), in all the plurality ofdetection areas, the same detection system of the touch position isadopted.

(3) In the display device according to (2), the detection system is anelectrostatic capacitive coupling system.

(4) In the display device according to (3), in each of the plurality ofdetection areas, a first electrode and a second electrode for generatingan electric field are arranged on a surface of the detection area, theplanar shape and arrangement rule of the first electrode and the secondelectrode are the same in two detection areas of the plurality ofdetection areas, and the first electrodes are electrically connected toeach other or the second electrodes are electrically connected to eachother.

(5) In the display device according to (3), the touch panel is providedwith a detection area in which a plurality of first electrodes and aplurality of second electrodes for generating an electric field aredisposed together on a surface of the detection area and a detectionarea in which one first electrode and one second electrode forgenerating an electric field are disposed.

(6) In the display device according to (1), there are two or moredetection systems of the touch position in the plurality of detectionareas.

(7) In the display device according to (1), the touch panel is providedwith a detection area overlapping a display area in the display paneland a detection area not overlapping the display area.

(8) In the display device according to (7), a light source emittinglight to the viewer side through the detection area not overlapping thedisplay area is arranged behind the detection area as viewed from theviewer.

(9) In the display device according to (1), the touch panel has anexternal connection terminal for inputting and outputting electricsignals, and the external connection terminal is disposed in thenon-detection area located between two detection areas next to eachother.

(10) In the display device according to (1), on a front surface of thetouch panel, a front window having a transparent substrate and alight-shielding film which has openings at positions overlapping two ormore detection areas of the plurality of detection areas is arranged.

By using the display device according to the invention, it is possibleto achieve compatibility between the simplicity of the configuration orcontrol of electronic equipment having the display device with the touchpanel and the maintaining of its high operability.

Moreover, the display device according to the invention has high generalversatility when being incorporated into electronic equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of amain portion in a display device with a touch panel of a firstembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the display device with the touchpanel shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a touch panel inthe display device with the touch panel of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a touch panel in adisplay device with a touch panel of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the display device with the touchpanel of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a touch panel in adisplay device with a touch panel of a third embodiment according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the invention will be described in detail together withembodiments with reference to the drawings.

Throughout the drawings for describing the embodiments, constituentshaving the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals andsigns, and the repetitive description thereof is omitted.

[First Embodiment]

FIGS. 1 to 3 are schematic views showing a schematic configuration of adisplay device with a touch panel of a first embodiment according to theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of amain portion in the display device with the touch panel of the firstembodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the display device withthe touch panel shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showingan example of a touch panel in the display device with the touch panelof the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a side view along the yz plane in an xyz orthogonalcoordinate system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view along the xyplane in the xyz orthogonal coordinate system shown in FIG. 1. In thexyz orthogonal coordinate system shown in FIG. 1, the xy plane isparallel with a display surface (display area) in a display panel, and aviewer observes the display device mainly from the +z-axis directionside.

In the first embodiment, a liquid crystal display device having a touchpanel combined therewith is taken as an example of a display device witha touch panel according to the invention. In this case, the displaydevice has, for example as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a liquid crystaldisplay panel 1, a backlight 2, a touch panel 3, a front window 4, and aprinted-wiring board 5.

The liquid crystal display panel 1 may be one of a so-calledtransmissive liquid crystal display panel or a so-calledsemi-transmissive liquid crystal display panel in the related art.Therefore, in the specification, a specific description of theconfiguration of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is omitted.

The backlight 2 arranged on a rear side of the liquid crystal displaypanel 1 as viewed from the viewer may be, for example, any one ofbacklights used for liquid crystal display devices in the related art.Therefore, in the specification, a specific description of theconfiguration of the backlight 2 is omitted.

The touch panel 3 arranged on a front surface side of the liquid crystaldisplay panel 1 as viewed from the viewer has a basic configurationsimilar to that of the related art and has one transparent substrate anda conductive pattern disposed on the substrate. However, the touch panel3 of the first embodiment has, for example as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, twodetection areas, i.e., a first detection area AR1 and a second detectionarea AR2 in one touch panel 3. Also the touch panel 3 has anon-detection area between the two detection areas AR1 and AR2. Thedetection area is an area in which a touch position can be detected whentouched with predetermined means (for example, a finger, a stylus, andthe like), while the non-detection area is an area in which a touchposition cannot be detected.

In the touch panel 3 of the first embodiment, a detection system of atouch position is an electrostatic capacitive coupling system (alsoreferred to as electrostatic capacitive system or analog capacitivecoupling system), and in each of the first detection area AR1 and thesecond detection area AR2, first electrodes 301 and second electrodes302 for generating an electric field on a surface of the detection areaare arranged.

In this case, one first electrode 301 is composed of a plurality ofrhombus-shaped electrode portions and a plurality of triangle-shapedelectrode portions both of which are arranged in a first direction(x-axis direction) and connecting portions which connect (couple) them.Similarly, one second electrode 302 is composed of a plurality ofrhombus-shaped electrode portions and a plurality of triangle-shapedelectrode portions (or only triangle-shaped electrode portions) both ofwhich are arranged in a second direction (y-axis direction) andconnecting portions which connect them.

A specific configuration example (the arrangement rule of the firstelectrode and the second electrode, and the like) and a manufacturingmethod of a touch panel in which the first electrode and the secondelectrode having such a planar shape are arranged in the detection areaare disclosed in, for example, JP 2010-044435 A and JP 2008-310550 A.Moreover, the detection system of a touch position in the touch panel 3according to the invention is not limited to the electrostaticcapacitive coupling system but can be appropriately selected. Therefore,in the specification, a description of the specific configuration ordetection principle of the touch panel 3 is omitted.

In the touch panel 3 according to the invention as described above, twokinds of detection areas, i.e., the first detection area AR1 and thesecond detection area AR2 are disposed, and the non-detection area islocated between the two kinds of detection areas AR1 and AR2. In thiscase, an external connection terminal which inputs and outputs electricsignals for detecting a touch position in the first detection area AR1and an external connection terminal which inputs and outputs electricsignals for detecting a touch position in the second detection area AR2maybe independent of each other.

However, in the touch panel 3 of the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 3for example, the second electrode 302 in the first detection area AR1and the second electrode 302 in the second detection area AR2 areelectrically connected through an extended wire 303 to serve as a commonelectrode. Also in this case, it is so configured that the firstelectrode 301 in the second detection area AR2 is independent of thefirst electrode 301 in the first detection area AR1, whereby electricsignals are input and output from different external connectionterminals 304. By doing this, it is possible to reduce the numbers ofthe external connection terminals 304 and the wires to as few aspossible, making it possible to suppress an increase in area of thetouch panel 3.

It is desirable that, for example as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, onedetection area (the second detection area AR2) of the two detectionareas disposed in the touch panel 3 be made small and disposed at anedge of a display area DA in the liquid crystal display panel 1. Bydoing this, the second detection area AR2 can be used for an operationbutton for, for example, an operation relating to a frequently usedfunction or a specific operation. Therefore, by displaying, for example,main information in an area overlapping the first detection area AR1 outof the display area DA of the liquid crystal display panel 1 anddisplaying the button for invoking a frequently used function orperforming a specific operation in an area overlapping the seconddetection area AR2, the invoking of a frequently used function or thespecific operation can be directly performed from any state, improvingoperability.

In this case, the invoking of a frequently used function or the specificoperation is performed by touching the touch panel 3. Accordingly,compared to, for example, a display device with a touch panel in therelated art in which mechanical switches, such as membrane switches, arearranged around the display area DA, the configuration or control issimplified.

Moreover, when a plurality of operation buttons are disposed in thesecond detection area AR2 in the touch panel 3, a light-shielding film401 having an opening at an area overlapping the first detection areaAR1 and openings at areas to be used as the operation buttons in thesecond detection area AR2 is disposed on the front window 4 arranged onthe front surface side of the touch panel 3 as viewed from the viewer asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for example, whereby the positions of theoperation buttons can be easily recognized.

That is, by incorporating the display device with the touch panel of thefirst embodiment into electronic equipment, it is possible to achievecompatibility between the simplicity of the configuration or control ofthe electronic equipment and the maintaining of its high operability.

When the operation buttons are disposed in the second detection areaAR2, it is sufficient that the presence or absence of touch in an areafunctioning as each of the operation buttons can be detected in thesecond detection area AR2, and therefore, the area of the firstelectrode 301 and the second electrode 302 to be arranged can bereduced. Therefore, compared to a display device with a touch panel inthe related art in which mechanical switches, such as membrane switches,are arranged around the display area DA, narrowing the frame (reducingthe area) can be easily achieved.

In the electronic equipment having the display device with the touchpanel of the first embodiment incorporated therein, the operationcontents corresponding to the operation buttons in the second detectionarea can be changed by means of software. Moreover, the positionalrelation between the first detection area AR1 and the second detectionarea AR2 is not limited the positional relation shown in FIG. 3 but canbe changed appropriately. Further, the position, planar shape, number,and the like of the detection area to be disposed for use as anoperation button, like the second detection area AR2, can be changedappropriately. For example, the detection area can be disposed at eachof the corners of the first detection area AR1 or can be disposed so asto surround the first detection area AR1. When a number of detectionareas for operation buttons are disposed, the area functioning as theoperation button can be changed by, for example, changing the wiring ofthe printed-wiring board 5 to be connected to the touch panel 3 or thepattern of the light-shielding film 401 disposed on the front window 4.Therefore, in the display device with the touch panel of the firstembodiment, it is possible to suppress a reduction in generalversatility when being incorporated into electronic equipment.

[Second Embodiment]

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views showing a schematic configuration of adisplay device with a touch panel of a second embodiment according tothe invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a planarconfiguration of the touch panel in the display device with the touchpanel of the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of thedisplay device with the touch panel of the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows the plan view along the xy plane in the xyz orthogonalcoordinate system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows the side view along theyz plane in the xyz orthogonal coordinate system shown in FIG. 1.

Also in the second embodiment, a liquid crystal display device having atouch panel disposed therein is taken as an example of a display devicewith a touch panel according to the invention. In this case, the displaydevice has, for example as shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal displaypanel 1, the backlight 2, the touch panel 3, and the front window 4.

The display device of the second embodiment differs from that of thefirst embodiment in the configuration of the touch panel 3. Therefore,in the second embodiment, only the configuration of the touch panel 3will be described.

In the touch panel 3 of the second embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, theexternal connection terminals 304 are disposed in the non-detection arealocated between the first detection area AR1 and the second detectionarea AR2. In this case, since it is sufficient that the planar shape andarrangement rule of the electrodes in each of the first detection areaAR1 and the second detection area AR2 are those as described in thefirst embodiment, the description is omitted in the second embodiment.

Also in this case, the second electrode 302 in the first detection areaAR1 and the second electrode 302 in the second detection area AR2 serveas a common electrode in which they are electrically connected throughone external connection terminal 304. Moreover, it is so configured thatthe first electrode 301 in the second detection area AR2 is independentof the first electrode 301 in the first detection area AR1, wherebyelectric signals are input and output from different external connectionterminals 304.

When the touch panel 3 as described above is used, it is necessary, forexample as shown in FIG. 5, to overlay the touch panel 3 such that thesurface thereof on which the external connection terminals 304 aredisposed faces the liquid crystal display panel 1. In this case, when itis assumed that the first electrode 301, the second electrode 302, andthe external connection terminal 304 are stacked on the same surface ofa substrate in the touch panel 3, the first electrode 301 and the secondelectrode 302 are located between the substrate in the touch panel 3 andthe liquid crystal display panel 1. Accordingly in this case, forexample, the stacking order of a conductive layer for shielding disposedon the substrate in the touch panel 3 and the first and secondelectrodes 301 and 302 is reversed from that of the touch panel 3 of thefirst embodiment.

Moreover in the case of the touch panel 3 of the second embodiment, theexternal connection terminal 304 can be disposed on the opposite surface(rear surface) from that on which the first electrode 301 and the secondelectrode 302 are stacked by, for example, using a method such asdisposing a through-hole in the substrate. In this case, the stackingorder of the conductive layer for shielding disposed on the substrate inthe touch panel 3 and the first and second electrodes 301 and 302 may bethe same as that of the touch panel 3 of the first embodiment.

In the case of the touch panel 3 of the second embodiment, the seconddetection area AR2 for operation buttons can be disposed at a positionnot overlapping the liquid crystal display panel 1 as shown in FIG. 5for example. In this case, when a light source 6, such as an LED, isarranged on the rear side of the second detection area AR2 as viewedfrom the viewer, the second detection area AR2 (operation buttons) canshine, and therefore, for example, the positions of the buttons areeasily recognized.

Accordingly, also when the display device with the touch panel of thesecond embodiment is incorporated into electronic equipment, it ispossible to achieve compatibility between the simplicity of theconfiguration or control of the electronic equipment and the maintainingof its high operability.

Moreover, the display device with the touch panel of the secondembodiment can suppress a reduction in general versatility when beingincorporated into electronic equipment.

[Third Embodiment]

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a touch panel in adisplay device with a touch panel of a third embodiment according to theinvention.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view along the xy plane in the xyz orthogonalcoordinate system shown in FIG. 1.

The first and second embodiments describe, as an example, the case wherethe planar shape and arrangement rule of the electrodes in the firstdetection area AR1 are the same as those of the second detection areaAR2. However, when the second detection area AR2 is used for operationbuttons, it is sufficient that the presence or absence of touch to anarea to be used as an operation button can be detected in the seconddetection area AR2. Therefore, when the second detection area AR2 isused for operation buttons, the detection accuracy required for thesecond detection area AR2 is relatively low. Accordingly, when thesecond detection area AR2 is used for operation buttons, electrodes tobe disposed in the second detection area AR2 may be, for example asshown in FIG. 6, a pair of triangular electrodes 305 and 306. Since thedetection method using such a pair of triangular electrodes 305 and 306has been well known, a description of a specific configuration ordetection principle of the second detection area AR2 is omitted in thespecification.

When the planar shape and arrangement rule of the electrodes aredifferent between the first detection area AR1 and the second detectionarea AR2 like the touch panel 3 of the third embodiment, both the firstelectrode 305 and the second electrode 306 in the second detection areaAR2 are independent of the first electrode 301 and the second electrode302 in the first detection area AR1.

Moreover, when the touch panel 3 of the third embodiment is used, forexample, an IC (Integrated Circuit) used for the derivation of thecoordinates of a touch position detects the presence or absence of touchwhile alternately switching the detection in a short time between thefirst detection area AR1 and the second detection area AR2.

Accordingly, also when the display device with the touch panel of thethird embodiment is incorporated into electronic equipment, it ispossible to achieve compatibility between the simplicity of theconfiguration or control of the electronic equipment and the maintainingof its high operability.

Moreover, in the display device with the touch panel of the thirdembodiment, it is possible to suppress a reduction in generalversatility when being incorporated into electronic equipment.

When the shape of the electrode of the second detection area AR2 to bedisposed for operation buttons is triangular like the touch panel 3 ofthe third embodiment, the electrode can be reduced in size compared tothe electrode composed of the rhombus-shaped electrode portion and thetriangle-shaped electrode portion as described in the first embodimentand the second embodiment. Therefore, the touch panel 3 of the thirdembodiment can reduce its outer dimensions compared to the touch panel 3of the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

Although a detailed description is omitted, it is of course apparentthat, also in the touch panel 3 of the third embodiment, the positionalrelation between the first detection area AR1 and the second detectionarea AR2, and the position, planar shape, number, and the like of thesecond detection area AR2 can be appropriately changed. Further, alsothe position of the external connection terminal 304 can beappropriately changed, and it is of course apparent that the externalconnection terminal 304 may be arranged between the first detection areaAR1 and the second detection area AR2 as shown in the second embodiment(FIG. 4).

While the invention has been specifically described so far based on theembodiments, the invention is not limited to the embodiments. It is ofcourse apparent that the invention can be variously modified within arange not departing from the gist thereof.

For example, in the embodiments, the case where the touch panel 3 iscombined with a liquid crystal display device (the liquid crystaldisplay panel 1) has been described as an example of a display devicewith a touch panel according to the invention. However, the invention isnot limited to that. It is of course apparent that the invention may beone obtained by, for example, combining the touch panel with aself-emitting display device using an organic EL (Electro Luminescence)material.

Moreover in the embodiment, an electrostatic capacitive coupling systemhas been described as an example of the detection system of a touchposition in the touch panel 3. However, the detection system of a touchposition is not limited to that. It is of course apparent that thedetection system may be another system.

While there have been described what are at present considered to becertain embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that variousmodifications may be made thereto, and it is intended that the appendedclaims cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit andscope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a display panel; anda touch panel arranged on a front surface side of the display panel asviewed from a viewer; wherein the touch panel comprises one transparentsubstrate, a conductive pattern disposed on the substrate, and alight-shielding layer; a plurality of detection areas in each of which atouch position can be detected are provided in the touch panel; anon-detection area in which the touch position is not detected isprovided between two detection areas next to each other out of theplurality of detection areas; each of the two detection areas includes aplurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes; andthe non-detection area includes a plurality of extended wires, each ofthe plurality of extended wires in the non-detection area connecting oneof the plurality of first electrodes in one of the two detection areasand one of the plurality of first electrodes in the other of the twodetection areas.
 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein inall the plurality of detection areas, the same detection system of thetouch position is adopted.
 3. The display device according to claim 2,wherein the detection system is an electrostatic capacitive couplingsystem.
 4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein a planarshape and arrangement rule of the first electrode and the secondelectrode are the same in the two detection areas of the plurality ofdetection areas.
 5. The display device according to claim 1, whereinthere are two or more detection systems of the touch position in theplurality of detection areas.
 6. The display device according to claim1, wherein the touch panel is provided with a detection area overlappinga display area in the display panel and a detection area not overlappingthe display area.
 7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein alight source emitting light to the viewer side through the detectionarea not overlapping the display area is arranged behind the detectionarea as viewed from the viewer.
 8. The display device according to claim1, wherein the touch panel has an external connection terminal forinputting and outputting electric signals, and the external connectionterminal is disposed in the non-detection area located between the twodetection areas next to each other.
 9. The display device according toclaim 1, wherein the light-shielding layer covers the non-detection areaand has at least an opening in the one of the two detection areasconfigured as an operation button for the display device.
 10. Thedisplay device according to claim 9, wherein a transparent front windowis arranged on a front surface side of the transparent substrate of thetouch panel, the light-shielding layer being formed as a light-shieldingfilm on a rear side of the front window facing the front surface side ofthe touch panel.
 11. The display device according to claim 10, whereinthe light-shielding film has one opening in the other of the twodetection areas and has a plurality of openings in the one of the twodetection areas corresponding to respective operation buttons in the oneof the two detection areas, the light-shielding film covering thenon-detection area between respective openings wherein wires connectingone of the plurality of first electrodes in the one of the two detectionareas and one of the plurality of first electrodes in the other of thetwo detection areas exist.